Disassembling apparatus for cigarette and filter assemblies



R. PINKHAM 3,345,991

J. DISASSEMBLING APPARATUS FOR CIGARETTE AND FILTER ASSEMBLIES FiledJune 4, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 10,1967

INVENTOR. Jfssf R. H/V/(HAM Oct. 10,1967 J. R. PINKHAM 3,345,991

DISASSEMBLING APPARATUS FOR CIGARETTE AND FILTER ASSEMBLIES Filed June4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (/2555 E I /A/KH/IM PARATUS FORCIGARETTE AND FILTER ASSEMBLIES Filed June 4. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 NVE N TOR. Jksse /P. /A//\//4M United States Patent G Filed June 4, 1965,Ser. No. 461,478 7 Claims. (Cl. 13120) This invention relates to anapparatus for disassembling filter and cigarette assemblies, and moreparticularly relates to an apparatus adapted continuously to acceptcomposite cigarette and filter assemblies preparatory to separatelyreclaiming the tobacco values thereof and the filter values thereof.

In an intermediate stage during the manufacture of filter tippedcigarettes, it is common practice to assemble in alignment twocigarettes of desired length and a double length section of filtermaterial located between the two cigarettes. The ends of the twocigarettes are brought into abutting relationship with the filtersection. A band of sealing material is then placed around the section offilter material with its edges overlapping the ends of the cigarettes.These overlapping edges are bonded to the cigarettes, thereby forming adouble-unit consisting of two cigarette tobacco rods with a doublelength filter section between them. Ultimately these double-units arecut transversely at their center, resulting in the formation of twoindividual filter tipped cigarettes from each double-unit.

The individual filter tipped cigarettes are then automatically collectedand stored in large transport trays for 'ultimate transfer to packagingmachinery. Use of such automatic tray-filling machines has beeneconomical, since it eliminates much hand labor, but the manualinspection function previously performed at the same time has therebybeen lost. Automatic inspection devices have been developed to overcomethis aspect of the use of automatic tray-filling machines. There isshown in U .8. Patent 2,951,364, issued Sept. 6, 1960, to I. H.Sherrill, an automatic inspection device for testing the double-unitfilter cigarettes by subjecting them to an internal air pressurediiferent from the external pressure, to test for holes or leaks in thecigarette paper of filter. Double-units that fail the test are rejected,and those that pass the test are allowed to travel onward to theaforesaid transverse cutting operation.

The tobacco contained within rejected cigarettes is quite valuable, andmust be salvaged. The filters have a lesser but still a significantsalvage value. In order to have value, the salvaged tobacco must not becontaminated with fibers from the filter. In cigarette machineryemployed before the advent of the automatic inspection devices describedabove, the cigarettes were inspected visually. Unsatisfactory cigaretteswere manually removed and placed by the inspector in trays for transferto salvage operations. In so doing, the inspector would orient thecigarettes in the tray for economical salvage, segregating any bits andpieces. With the automatic inspection devices described above, therejected cigarettes are unoriented and either in double length form, orin bits and pieces, and no inspector is normally present to segregatethe bits and pieces and to orient the double length cigarettes. Salvageof material rejected by automatic inspection equipment by use of priorart salvage equipment is thus very unsatisfactory.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus adaptedcontinuously to disassemble double-unit cigarette and filter assembliesand to segregate the cigarette sections from the filter sections.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatuswherein tobacco values may be reclaimed in substantially pure form andwithout the incorporation therein of filter material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatuswherein rejected double-unit cigarette and filter assemblies aresubjected to a cutting and segregating operation during the rejectionphase so as to facilitate the separate reclamation of tobacco values andfilter values.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for rapidlyreclaiming cigarette values from cigarettes rejected during high speedcigarette manufacture operations.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be morefully appreciated as the description of apparatus according to theinvention proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of apparatus according to the inventionincorporating a first embodiment of means for disassembling selectedones of a series of cigarette and filter assemblies;

FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken alongline 22 therein;

FIG. 3 is a partial detail section view of a portion of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 taken along section line 33 therein;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation view of a second embodiment of means fordisassembling selected'ones of a series of cigarette and filterassemblies;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of certain elements shown in FIG. 4 and viewedalong line 55 therein;

FIG. 6 is a partial detail section view of the elements shown in FIG. 4and taken along line 6-6 therein;

FIG. 7 is a left-hand end view of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a partial elevation view of a third embodiment of means fordisassembling selected ones of a series of cigarette and filterassemblies;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of certain elements shown in FIG. 8 and viewedalong line 99 therein; and

FIG. 10 is a partial detail section view of the elements shown in FIG. 6and taken along line 10-10 therein.

Referring now to the drawings, and especially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isshown transport means 21, which in the illustrated embodiments takes theform of a drum assembly. These means 21 may be employed with, but do notform a part of, the present invention. The drum assembly 21 is adaptedto receive a series of cigarette and filter assemblies 20 from conveyor22a indicated in simplified outline in phantom detail in FIG. 2. Theassemblies 20, after deposition upon drum assembly 21 from conveyor belt22a, are thereafter transported or carried on the outer circumference ofthe revolving portion of drum assembly 21 to a point where selected onesthereof are transferred to the disassembling means. Those assemblies 20that are not disassembled according to the invention continue on thedrum assembly 21 until they are delivered to conveyor 22b for furtherprocessing, e.g. for packaging. The construction of drum assembly 21 isshown in greater detail in the copending application of Pinkham,McArthur, and Speas, Jr., Ser. No. 461,291, filed June 4 1965 andassigned to a common assignee with the present invention. Itis to beunderstood that conveyors 22a and 22b may take any form capable ofcarrying and transferring assemblies 20 and are not restricted tobelt-type conveyors. In the aforesaid copending application drurn-typeconveyors are illustrated.

According to the present invention the cigarette and filter assembles 20will 'have been individually tested for quality on drum assembly 21 orbefore reaching drum assembly 21. However, while the disassemblingapparatus of the present invention is useful in disassembling cigaretteand filter assemblies which have been previously tested and founddefective as aforesaid, the invention is not restricted thereto. Ratherthe invention finds application whenever selected ones of a series ofcigarette and filter assemblies 20 are to be cut in a manner to separatethe center filter section 20a from the cigarette sections 2012 and 20c.

The drum assembly 21 comprises a fixed head 23 which serves to mount theentire drum assembly 21 to the general framework (not shown) of thecigarette processing equipment with which it is employed. Journalledwithin head 23 is a rotatable drum 24 which extends at one end throughannular fixed drum portion 23 as a reduced diameter rotatable drumportion 24a, which includes intermediate stepped surfaces 242, 24 and24d, and which is terminated at its opposite end by flange 24b.Rotatable drum 24 is connected to drive means (not shown) for rotationin the direction indicated in FIG. 2. Preferably the drive means forconveyor belts 22a and 22b are either the same as, or are synchronizedwith, the drive means for drum assembly 21 and for the disassembly meansto be described hereinafter. The surface 24d of rotatable drum 24bounded by face 24c and by flange 24]) thereof constitutes a nestingsurface for the cradling and transport of cigarette and filterassemblies 20.

Rotatable drum 24 carries a plurality of longitudinal rows of cardingmeans 25, said rows being arranged around the circumference of rotatabledrum 24 upon the surface 24d. Each cradling means 25 is shown in theform of a semi-circular flute adapted to cradle a portion of thecylindrical surface of an assembly 20. The central pair of cradlingmeans in a row are connected to form an elongated cradling means 25awhich is thereby adapted to receive the cylindrical surface ofsubstantially the entire filter section 20a of a cigarette and filterassembly 20.

Each cradling means 25 has a central orifice 26 (FIG. 1) opening at aposition underlying any cigarette and filter assembly cradled thereby.Central elongated cradling means 25a has a pair of these orifices 26.The orifices 26 in each row, i.e. the orifices 26 associated with a rowof cradling means 25 and 25a for cradling a single cigarette and filterassembly 20, are connected in common by internal passageways (not shown)so as to be valved as a group to either a positive source of airpressure or a source of air vacuum. Thus each cigarette and filterassembly 20 may be subjected either to positive air pressure at orifices26 of the cradling means 25 and 25a in which it is nested, or it may besubjected at those same orifices to an air vacuum. Each such assembly 20is thus individually subjected at its associated orifices 26 to pressuretending to eject it from the cradling means 25, 25a, or to vacuumtending to retain it. Suitable valving means shown in the aforesaidcopending application are provided such that each row of cradling means25, 25a may be individually valved between air pressure and air vacuumas aforesaid, in response to a selecting command which may for exampleindicate that a certain assembly 20 is defective and thus suitable fordisassembly. When this command to the valving means reflects such aquality control decision, there will be a delay during which theassembly 20 will travel from the point at which the quality controldecision is made to the point at which the ejection will occur. Thedelay can be in the valving itself, or it can be by mechanicalrestraint, but in any case ejection must be effected at a predeterminedposition in the rotation of drum 24. In the aforesaid copendingapplication, a guide bar is shown which constitutes an ex ample of adelay by mechanical restraint. There the assembly 20 is restrainedagainst the positive air pressure jets thereon emanating from orifices26, until the circumferential point is reached where the guide bar ends,and at that point ejection is effected. While the transport means 21forms a preferred source of assemblies 20 for the disassembling andsegregating means constituting the present invention, any other sourceof assemblies 20 may be subsituted.

The disassembling and segregating means forming the present inventionwill now be described in connection wih the example transport means 21described above. As is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the first embodimentof disassembling means comprises an inclined ramp indicated generally at32, and a roller and knife assembly indicated generally at 40. As isindicated, the drum assembly 21 rotates in the clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 2. Roller and knife assembly 40 is mounted to generalframework 41 by angle bracket 42 so that the assembly 40 is offsetrelative to the center of drum assembly 21. Inclined ramp 32 isgenerally U-shaped, including a pair of legs 30 and 31 forming the mainportion of the ramp, and portions 30b, 31b, joining the legs at theirlower ends. Legs 30 and 31 are arranged so that their upper ends 300,31a, respectively, lie slightly outside the annulus swept out byassemblies 20 in cradling means 25, and are positioned in the quadrantimmediately preceding the lowermost portion of drum 24. At portions 30b,31b, ramp 32 lies in the proximity of the pair of rollers 43 and 44. Thearrangement thus is that ramp 32 forms a plane leading from drum 24 tojust outside the periphery of rollers 43, 44. The plane of the ramp atits lower end is essentially parallel and slightly spaced from a tangentto rollers 43, 44, at the ramp lower portions 30b, 31b, and at its upperend is slightly more steep at portions 30a, 31a, than the tangent to theannulus swept out by cradling means 25.

Ramp legs 30 and 31, as may be best seen in FIG. 1, are spaced apart tooccupy the extremes of the area 24d embraced between face 240 and flange24b of drum 24. Lower portions 30b, 31b occupy the entire width of ramp32 in the vicinity of rollers 43, 44, so as to act as a full ledger forthe support of assemblies 20 under rollers 43, 44. A central notchedportion 32b in ramp 32 accommodates knives '53, 54. Each of ramps 31 and32 includes a right angled flange at the edge thereof closestrespectively to face 24c or flange 24b, respectively flange 30c andflange 310.. These flanges help to guide an assembly 20 as it rolls orslides down ramps 30, 31, 32. It has been found that satisfactoryoperation can be achieved without flanges 30c, 310.

The roller and knife assembly 40 includes a motive means 45, which mayconveniently comprise an electric motor, having a motor pulley 46 whichthrough a belt 53 drives a pair of shaft pulleys 47 and 48 to drive aknife shaft 49 and a roller shaft 50 respectively. Shafts 49, 50 arejournalled for rotation in end plates 51 and 52. The rotatable knives 53and 54 are carried on knife shaft 49 in spaced arrangement, the spacingbetween the knives being slightly greater than the length of a filtersection 20a of a cigarette and filter assembly 20. The pair of knives 53and 54 are positioned on shaft 49 relative to ramp 32 so as to lie inthe path of the filter section 20a of a descending cigarette and filterassembly 20. Knives 53, 54 are each double-eccentric in outline so as topresent two pairs of aligned radial knife edges, spaced apart The radialedges 54a, 54b of knife 54 are shown in FIG. 2. As is best seen in FIG.2, the radial knife edges of knives 53, 54 pass through notched portion32b to intercept and sever the assembly 20 just outside the ends offilter section 20a while the cigarette sections 20b, 200 are supportedby ramp portions 30b, 31b.

The arrangement of shaft 50 and rollers 43, 44 is such as to bring theperiphery of rollers 43, 44 into contact with the cigarette sections 20band 201: respectively of a cigarette and filter assembly 20 when itreaches the lower portions 3%, 31b, of ramp 32. The inner facingportions 43a, 44a of rollers 43, 44 are in close proximity to the sidesof knives 53 and 54 respectively. The shaft 50 is positioned slightly upthe ramp from the outline of knives 53, 54 so that the nip of rollers43, 44 on an assembly 20 is released slightly before the assembly restsagainst the :generally circular portions of knives 53, 54. The assembly20 is then loosely held in the pocket formed by roll- ,eirs 43, 44, ramp32, and the circular portions of knives 53, 54. This prevents abrasionof the assembly 20 during the period before a radial edge 54a or 54b isrotated into position 'to sever it. Two assemblies 20 may be severedjust outside the ends of the filter section 20a during every revolutionof knives 53, 54.

When assemblies 20 roll or slide down' ramp 32 to rollers 43, 44, theyarrive in generally transverse orientation to knives 53, 54. Thedistance down ramps 30, 31, 32 is sufliciently short, the momentum ofcigarette and filter assemblies 20 is sufliciently great, and therelease by cradling means 25 is sufiiciently uniform, so that randomskewing of a cigarette and filter assembly 20 while descending on ramps30 and 31 will be either non-existent or very slight. However if anyskewing does occur the assembly 20 will be intercepted first by theroller nearest the downwardly skewed end thereof. Thus if desired, therollers 43 and 44 may be driven at an angular rate such that theirperipheral velocity is appreciably less than the velocity of a freerolling or sliding filter and cigarette assembly 20 on ramps 30 and 31.Under that optional arrangement, the roller which first intercepts sucha skewed assembly 20 drives that end of the assembly toward theassociated knife at a slower ratethan that end had been travelling, thusallowing the other end of that assembly to partially catch up. Theoverall effect is to straighten out slightly skewed assemblies 20 sothat knives 53 and 54 address themselves to cigarette and filterassemblies 20 perpendicularly or at a very slight angle from the perpen-.dicular.

Upon disassembly of a cigarette and filter assembly 20 by knives 53' and54 the individual pieces 20a, 20b, and 20a freely fall from the rollerand knife assembly 40 and may be individually intercepted by receivermeans in the form of reclamation chutes or bins for individual storageprior to further processing. Anyisirn-ple chute or bin a-rrangement issuitable, since the sections 20a, 20b, 200 will always occupy the samespatial arrangement during their free fall, and consequently no dangerof mixing occurs.

.In FIGS. 1 and 2 a bin 60 is shown by way of example of the receivermeans. The compartments 60a, 60b, 60c receive respectively the sections20a, 20b, 20c. In the aforesaid copending application example chutes areshown for effecting segregation of the sections 20a, 20b, 20c.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 10, there is shown therein two furtherembodiments of the disassembling ;dating the entire length of anycigarette and filter assembly 20. A pair of knives 63, 64 are arrangedto intersect with the central .areaof surface portion 61. This centralarea is curved so as to follow the curvature of the knives at thatpoint. A tongue 62 is tangent to this curved portion and extends betweenthe pair of circular knives 63 and 64. Tongue 62 is of sufiicient widthto accommodate severed filter sections 20a of cigarette and filterassemblies 20. A bin 60 or other receiver means may also be employed inthe present embodiments, and tongue 62 helps to separate the sections20a from the sections 201:, 200 for deposit in such a bin. The upperportion 60d of ramp 60- is only slightly curved, or is actually planar(tangent to the curved portion), thus providing considerable separationfrom knives 63, 64 at the upper ramp end 60d. As is best shown in FIGS.6 and 10, each of a pair of end plates 66 and 67 are affixed to generalframework 41 and in turn carry ramp'60 and journal the ends of a knifeshaft 65. Circular knives 63, 64 are carried on and driven by shaft 65.In each of the second and third embodiments the cutting edge of knives63, 64 penetrates the ramp 60 at slots 60b, 60c therein. This provides acomplete and clean cut of each assembly 20.

I In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, the motor 45drives a shaft mounted in plates 66, 67 so as to drive pulley 47 andthereby pulley 46 through belt 53. Pulley 46 is mounted on shaft 65, andthus motor 45 is effective to drive shaft 65 and knives 63, 64 mountedthereon. As is shown in FIG. 10, an assembly 20 is ejected from cradlingmeans 25 of drum 24 into the wedge-shaped space just before the nipbetween the upper portion 60d of ramp 60 and knives 63, 64. The frictionaction of knives 63, 64 draws the assemblies 20 downward after theyreach the crotch between portion 60d and the knife edge, and theassemblies 20 are completely severed. The sections 20a, 20b, 20c falloff their respective portions of ramp 60 for collection.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, a positive drive isemployed to assist the passage of assemblies 20 past knives 63, 64.Carried between end plates 66 and 67 is a star wheel drive shaft 68 uponwhich are mounted three star wheels 69, 80, 81, in alignment,respectively, with openings 60a, 60f, 60g in ramp 60. Each star wheelcarries a plurality of arms 69a. Shaft 68 with star wheels 69, 80, 81 ismounted in spaced arrangement relative to ramp 60, knife shaft 65, andknives 63, 64, so that the star wheel arms 69a reach through openings60a, 60 60g in ramp 60 and into the cylindrical envelope defined by thepair of circular blades 63 and 64, as is best shown in FIG. 6.

In this second embodiment, motor 45 drives knives 63, 64 on shaft 65 bythe same sequence of elements described with respect to the thirdembodiment, and also drives a pulley 71 on star wheel shaft 68. Becausepulley 71 rides on the outside of belt 53, shaft 68 rotates opposite toshaft 65. Thus star wheels 69, 80, 81 rotate opposite to knives 63, 64,and thereby act to advance assemblies 20 against blades 63, 64. It willbe clear that the star wheels may take many forms, the essential featurebeing that a sequence of pushing members are introduced to pushassemblies 20 through the nip of knives 63, 64. One or more star wheelsmay be employed, e.g. one only to drive each assembly 20 at filtersection 20a, or e.g. additional ones to also drive cigarette sections20b and 20c (as illustrated). The action is a positive displacement ofassemblies 20 through the knives. The sections 20a, 20b, 200 arereleased from ramp 60 in the same fashion as already described withregard to the third embodiment, and may also be received by bins orchutes.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainillustrative embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that the specific elements may be varied and rearranged withoutdeparting from the invenlength filter section between them, anddisassembling and segregating the cigarette sections and the filtersections comprising, a generally downwardly extending ramp for guidingand supporting said assemblies during descent thereof; a pair of spacedgenerally circular knives for severing said assemblies just outside theends of the filter section, said ramp and knives being arranged so thatat least a portion of each of said knives penetrates the outline of saidramp; and a driven member cooperating with the surface of said ramp tointercept and drive each of said assemblies into said pair of knives.

2. Apparatus for accepting from a source, double cigarette and filterassemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end ofthe assembly and a double length filter section between them, anddisassembling and segregating the cigarette sections and the filtersections comprising, a generally downwardly extending ramp for guidingand supporting said assemblies during descent thereof; a pair of spacedgenerally circular knives for severing said assemblies just outside theends of the filter section, said ramp and knives being arranged so thatat least a portion of each of said knives penetrates the outline of saidramp; and a pair of driven rollers each cooperating with the surface ofsaid ramp to intercept and drive said assemblies into said pair ofknives, said pair of rollers being spaced apart so that each interceptsone of said cigarette sections on either side of said filter section.

3. Apparatus for accepting from a source, double cigarette and filterassemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end ofthe assembly and a double length filter section between them, anddisassembling and segregating the cigarette sections and the filtersections comprising, a generally downwardly extending ramp for guidingand supporting said assemblies during descent thereof; a pair of spacedgenerally circular knives each having radial cutting edges for severingsaid assemblies just outside the ends of the filter section, said rampand knives being arranged so that at least a portion of each of saidknives penetrates the outline of said ramp; and a driven membercooperating with the surface of said ramp to intercept and drive saidassemblies against the generally circular portions of said pair ofknives for severing by said radial edges.

4. Apparatus for accepting from a source, double cigarette and filterassemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end ofthe assembly and a double length filter section between them, anddisassembling and segregating the cigarette sections and the filtersections comprising, a generally downwardly extending ramp for guidingand supporting said assemblies during descent thereof; a pair of spacedgenerally circular knives for severing said assemblies just outside theends of the filter section, said ramp and knives being arranged so thatat least a portion of each of said knives penetrates the outline of saidramp, the knife edges being disposed radially at eccentric portions ofthe knives outline; and a pair of driven rollers each cooperating withthe surface of said ramp to intercept and drive said assemblies towardthe eccentric portions of said pair of knives for severing by saidradial edges, said rollers being spaced slightly up said ramp from saidknives so as to allow each said assembly to be free of the nip of saidrollers while touching the eccentric portions of said knives, said pairof rollers being spaced apart so that each intercepts a cigaretteportion on either side of said filter portion.

5. Apparatus for accepting from a source, double cigarette and filterassemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end ofthe assembly and a double length filter section between them, anddisassembling and segregating the cigarette sections and the filtersections comprising, a pair of spaced generally circular knives forsevering said assemblies just outside the ends of the filter section; acurved generally downwardly extending ramp for guiding and supportingsaid assemblies during descent thereof, a portion of said ramp includingmeans defining a discontinuity in the surface thereof suflicient toaccommodate at least a portion of the edge of each of said knives, anupper portion of said ramp cooperating with said knives to define anupwardly open and generally wedge-shaped space therebetween adapted toreceive said assemblies, and a lower portion of said ramp below saidknives having separate ramp portions acting to discharge the severedcigarette sections and filter sections at different portions therealong.

6. Apparatus for accepting from a source, double cigarette and filterassemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end ofthe assembly and a double length filter section between them, anddisassembling and segregating the cigarette sections and the filtersections comprising, a pair of spaced generally circular knives forsevering said assemblies just outside the ends of the filter section; acurved generally downwardly extending ramp for guiding and supportingsaid assemblies during descent thereof, a portion of said ramp includingmeans defining a discontinuity in the surface thereof sufficient toaccommodate at least a portion of the edge of each of said knives, anupper portion of said ramp cooperating with said knives to define anupwardly open and generally wedge-shaped space therebetween adapted toreceive said assemblies, and a lower portion of said ramp below saidknives having separate ramp portions acting to discharge the severedcigarette sections and filter sections at different portions therealong;and driven means for intercepting each said assembly as it descends intosaid wedge-shaped space and positively displacing it along said rampthrough cutting contact with said knives.

7. Apparatus for accepting from a source, double cigarette and filterassemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end ofthe assembly and a double length filter section between them, anddisassembling and segregating the cigarette sections and the filtersections comprising, a pair of spaced generally circular knives forsevering said assemblies just outside the ends of the filter section; acurved generally downwardly extending ramp for guiding and supportingsaid assemblies during descent thereof, a portion of said ramp includingmeans defining a discontinuity in the surface thereof sufi'icient toaccommodate at least a portion of the edge of each of said knives, anupper portion of said ramp cooperating with said knives to define anupwardly open and generally wedge-shaped space therebetween adapted toreceive said assemblies, and a lower portion of said ramp below saidknives acting to discharge the severed cigarette sections and filtersections to respective receiver means; and a rotatably driven memberhaving a plurality of radial arms disposed to be driven downward in turninward of said knife edges so as to intercept each said assembly andforce it through cutting contact with said knives.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,372,788 4/1945 Lombardo 83-471X 2,889,878 6/1959 White et al 83165 3,072,165 1/1963 Fiedler 146983,148,720 9/1964 Olson et a1. 14698 3,233,613 2/ 1966 Korber et al 13196X ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR ACCEPTING FROM A SOURCE, DOUBLE CIGARETTE AND FILTERASSEMBLIES EACH CONSISTING OF TWO CIGARETTE SECTIONS, ONE AT EACH END OFTHE ASSEMBLY AND A DOUBLE LENGTH FILTER SECTION BETWEEN THEM, ANDDISASSEMBLING AND SEGRATING THE CIGARETTE SECTIONS AND IN THE FILTERSECTIONS COMPRISING, A GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING RAMP FOR GUIDINGAND SUPPORTING SAID ASSEMBLIES DURING DESCENT THEREOF; A PAIR OF SPACEDGENERALLY CIRCULAR KNIVES FOR SEVERING SAID ASSEMBLIES JUST OUTSIDE THEENDS OF THE FILTER SECTION, SAID RAMP AND KNIVES BEING ARRANGED SO THATAT LEAST A PORTION OF EACH OF SAID KNIVES PENETRATES THE OUTLINE OF SAIDRAMP; AND A DRIVEN MEMBER COOPERATING WITH THE SURFACE OF SAID RAMP TOINTERCEPT AND DRIVE EACH OF SAID ASSEMBLIES INTO PAIR OF KNIVES.